Set amidst an IT zone, Sound Garden was designed to be a relaxed but refined cafe that primarily caters to the IT crowd from the neighborhood. It was also envisioned as an acoustically treated platform for high-energy, high-volume live performances. The design centers around the six fully-grown coconut trees cutting through the center of the site.
Legend
Open seating
Semi open seating
Double height space seating
Stage
Staircase
Toilet
Glass wash
Accountant’s office
Kitchen store
Liquor store
Staff room
The buildings on the South and West are higher and closer to the site, shading the central courtyard throughout the day. The closed mass is strategically placed to the North-East to afford a bigger foreground for views of the entire site. Much of the original character of the site has been retained. The design splits the site into open, semi-open, and closed areas. The open and semi-open zones account for 70% of the site, while the remaining 30% is the enclosed space for weekend live events.
The existing coconut trees and laterite rock closely resembled the beach towns of Goa and Kerala, which became the basis of the design’s tropical vibe. Local laterite stone from the existing walls on the site was reused to build the compound wall. Existing elements and site conditions profoundly influenced the material palette and the signature look and feel of the cafe. To enhance the natural characteristics of the site, besides locally available laterite stone, grey Kota stone and brick flooring are used.
This zone is outlined by operable louvers that allow diffused indirect sunlight into the space and can be closed to protect the seating area from rain.
Legend
Indoor seating
Toilet
Kitchen
Abutting the open-to-sky courtyard is a semi-open L-shaped pavilion covered with a translucent polycarbonate sheet raised on a lightweight wooden truss.
The transition between the open courtyard and the closed indoor space is made seamless and smooth by the semi-open seating area.
Legend
Indoor Seating
Semi Open Seating
Double Height Seating
Courtyard Seating
Additions such as natural wood and yellow Jaisalmer marble complement the existing material palette, enhancing the tropical feel created by the design.